Posted by jay on December 9, 2001, at 14:45:46
In reply to Have I blown all my chances?, posted by Denise528 on December 8, 2001, at 10:18:35
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> In the past I have been on and off Prothiaden, Zooloft and Seroxat at different times in my life, they all worked wonderfully and seemed to work very quickly, I responded to them within a few days. However, since June I have tried to go back on all of them with very little success, infact they seemed to make me worse this time.. Has anyone else had this experience?
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> My question is, do antidepressants work in any way like antibiotics, do they tend to lose their effectiveness the more you go on and off them. I am still taking 300mg prothiaden which doestn't seem to be doing very much. I am also taking Zyprexa which is the only drug that seems to be doing anything. What I am now concerned about is that I have ruined my chances of any of the SSRIs working ever again and I'm scared that I am going to be stuck feeling like this for ever and ever.
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> Can anyone advise?
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> DeniseDenise:
I think once depression and anxiety really hit us, we never quite are *the same*. But, that doesn't have to be a bad thing, or a life-sentence to misery. It can, I think in many cases, make us better people.
Not to say depression and anxiety are some simple thing. I find toying with the meds to relieve "symptoms" really help, and also that every med seems to affect each of us in very different ways, so if you are not quite happy, don't be afriad to try something else. Don't settle for only having 25 percent of your symptoms looked after...go *all the way*.
I have, and seen many, many others, bounce back from anxiety-depression even after 10 or so years, and often if just takes that long to both find a right mix of meds, and to let the changes help you re-adjust to your life. I seemed to hit my all-time low after my first 3-5 years of treatment, but made small steps upward after, even if I slid back down a few notches once in awhile. I am not exactly where I wish to be in life...but I have managed to crush some of the overwhelming anxiety and sadness that confined me too my bed for a few years at a time.
Keep coming back for support...talk...it all helps, even if it doesn't seem like much.
BTW, yes, I do understand what others where saying about depression being difficult by stopping/starting meds, but that is assuming there is somehow one magic med, or combo, that will just make everything fine. I happen to think even over time, as we age, as our bodies change, we might have to address new issues with new meds. It also seems many folks go through meds a number of times before coming to the one or combo that helps symptoms the best at that point in time, and some kind of adjustment has to be made even a number of times.
So...all's I am saying is that I don't think you have blown "all your chances"...and are just hitting those damn roadblocks..heh. Not trying to downplay your pain...
Best wishes..
Jay
poster:jay
thread:86298
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011202/msgs/86387.html